As with any major purchase, the decision to buy a residence in New York is governed by a multitude of factors. While there may be practical reasons why you are looking to buy- for instance, as an investment- there is always a strong emotional component too.

Because we have served the high-end residential market for over a century, Brown Harris Stevens is sensitive to subtle but critical issues, such as your individual taste and style, as well as more practical considerations such as proximity to schools or shops. At the same time, our unrivaled knowledge of the market gives us special understanding of the relationship between price and value and its implications to you as a purchaser.

Our goal is to locate for you a range of properties that meet your criteria and then help you find one residence that wins your heart. From there we will guide you through the complex process of negotiating and acquiring a property.

These are just some of the ways we can help you:

• Brown Harris Stevens has exceptional experience with, and knowledge of, the high end market, from townhouses to cooperative and condominium apartments.

• Our brokers are uniquely equipped to understand your lifestyle and your needs, beyond the size and features for which you are looking.

• As managers of many of the city's most exclusive buildings, we often have advance word on the residences coming up for sale.

• Similarly, we have first-hand knowledge of how building co-op boards work, and we offer an intimate understanding of specific requirements on a building-by-building basis.

• We offer a complete propriety online database of properties, drawing on oout own numerous exclusives and on listings handled with other brokers.

• If you are unable to visit a property in person, we may be able to arrange one of our exclusive CD ROM video tours to preview at home.

• Out multilingual staff will keep in constant contact with you, wherever you are currently located.

• We will personally help you prepare for co-op board interviews and will handle many of the other details associated with taking possession of a property.